Students explore career options via Summer Funding program

Last summer, Sofia Rietti ’18 experienced the world of cable television, working as a script intern at Late Night with Seth Meyers. Across the globe, Marcell Sandor ’18 interned with BH Architecture Firm in Budapest, Hungary, working to renovate and recreate architectural masterpieces. Their diverse experiences were made possible with the help of summer funding.

Career Services’ Summer Funding program offers resources to students pursuing unpaid and underpaid opportunities. The deadline to apply for 2018 summer funding is Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Through a competitive application process, students are required to think critically about career development skills and goals for their desired summer experiences. Applications are then reviewed by the selection committee, composed of 35 to 40 faculty members, staff, and alumni.

The program is funded by members of Colgate’s alumni and parent network who aim to help students pursue experiences that will prepare them for the workforce post-graduation. In 2017, they donated $1.2 million in grants to 253 students. More than $4 million has been donated to the fund since it was founded in 2013.

With their awards, students are able to pursue their passions and make life-changing memories. They are also able to step outside of their comfort zones and try something entirely new. This was certainly the case for Tyler Maxie ’18, who pursued a musical theater intensive, training with pre-professional and professional actors through the ENCORE Program at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Connecting with fellow members of the acting community, Maxie benefitted from pushing himself in his coursework and learning to navigate a new city.

Rietti also reflected on the importance of exploring new areas. “[This internship] introduced me to the script department, which I did not previously know of, and it is a department that aligns well with my interests and skill sets,” she said.

Colgate is one of the few schools with such a comprehensive program for funding students with the financial resources to pursue these unique opportunities.

“We do allow students to do a self-designed summer,” Michael Sciola, associate vice president of Institutional Advancement and Career Initiatives recently told the New York Times. “Our overall goal is to empower our students to explore their interests with practical immersive experiences.”